8 Then Amaziah sent messengers to the king of Israel Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu. “Come, let us meet face to face,” he said.
9 But Jehoash king of Israel replied to Amaziah king of Judah: “A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ Then a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle. 10 You have indeed defeated Edom, and your heart has become proud. Glory in that and stay at home. Why should you stir up trouble so that you fall—you and Judah with you?”
11 But Amaziah would not listen, and Jehoash king of Israel advanced. He and King Amaziah of Judah faced each other at Beth-shemesh in Judah. 12 And Judah was routed before Israel, and every man fled to his home.
13 There at Beth-shemesh, Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Ahaziah.
Then Jehoash went to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate—a section of four hundred cubits. 14 He took all the gold and silver and all the articles found in the house of the LORD and in the treasuries of the royal palace, as well as some hostages. Then he returned to Samaria.
15 As for the rest of the acts of Jehoash, along with his accomplishments, his might, and how he waged war against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?
16 And Jehoash rested with his fathers and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. And his son Jeroboam reigned in his place.
REFLECTIONS
Written by James Davidson
This is such a tragic story! Israel were called to be light to the nations by loving their neighbours as themselves. But here they are waging war against one another. An arrogant Judean king provokes war with an Israelite king. Israel routs Judah in battle. A 180-metre section of the wall of God’s city demolished – by Israelites! God’s temple looted – by Israelites! The palace of King David’s heir looted – by Israelites!
This is a very low point for God’s people. We see why Israel could only ever be a foreshadowing of God’s true kingdom. We see why Jesus had to come to deal with the sin of his people.
But we should also see a warning for ourselves as God’s people now. The Apostle Paul wrote in Galatians: ‘For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is fulfilled in a single decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you keep on biting and devouring one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another’ (Galatians 5:13-15). We too are called to be the light of the world by loving one another as Christ loved us. But we are not immune from fighting each other. We can become proud. We can begin to look down on others and criticise them. We can pick a quarrel. We can hurt with our words. We can take offence when no offence was intended. If we see this happening we need to repent and confess and ask forgiveness and seek reconciliation. We need to commit ourselves again ‘to serve one another in love’ (Galatians 5:13). If we don’t, we will end up like Israel of old – ‘devouring one another’.
Let’s pray. Father, please forgive us for when we have not loved one another as we should. Please keep us from biting and devouring each other and being consumed by each other. Help us to love and serve one another as you have loved and served us so that we might indeed be a light to the world, for Jesus’ sake, Amen.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
James is our Honorary Assistant Minister.